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March 28 down the years
Tragedy strikes Merv the Swerve
Scrum.com
Mervyn Davies was forced to retire after suffering a brain haemorrhage
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1976 Welsh captain Mervyn Davies suffered a brain haemorrhage during the Swansea-Pontypool Welsh Cup semi-final at Cardiff. To the relief of all he later recovered, but his rugby career was brought to a premature finish. He played his final international against France in March 1976 before his condition ended a career that had taken in 38 Wales caps and two victorious British and Irish Lions tours, to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa in 1974. 1921 England won the Grand Slam by defeating France 10-6 in a tight Easter Monday match in Paris. The English success was secured thanks to tries from lock Arthur Blakiston and the supreme winger Cyril Lowe. 1953 The Stade Colombes hosted Wales' 6-3 victory over France on the final day of the Five Nations Championship. Two tries from Gareth Griffiths were enough to help Wales to victory, but they finished second in the table to England after an 8-3 loss to the men in white at the National Stadium in Cardiff. 1910 Ireland travelled to face France at the Parc des Princes, picking up an 8-3 win thanks to tries from forward Tom Smyth and wing Charles Thompson, who was playing his final Test match. France No.8 Pierre Guillemin picked up his side's only score. The defeat was France's fourth of the Five Nations, condemning them to a whitewash and the Wooden Spoon. 1948 Italy were put to the sword by a French XV in Rovigo, the French running in nine tries on their way to a 39-6 win. Home fans at the Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini had only a try from debutant Paolo Rosi to cheer. 1970 Cardiff's Robin Williams gave a master-class in goal-kicking using both feet. He kicked four penalties, two conversions and a left-footed dropped goal from the right touchline but was unable to stop his side losing 30-28 to the Barbarians, who prevailed thanks to an equally distinguished display of goal-kicking by their full-back, Tony Jorden. 1936 Spain defeated Portugal 16-9 at the Campo Universitaria in Madrid. The Portuguese fielded no less than 13 debutants for the game. © Scrum.com
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